Gas-stove-door latch.



R. HOFFMAN. GAS STOVE DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED mums. 1909.

927,240. Patented Julyfl, 1909. F g- UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

RUDOLPH HOFFMAN, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STOVE COMPANY, OFST.

1 LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-STOVE-DOO'.R LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

.-A.pp1.ication filed January 25, 1909. Serial No. 474,119.

Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGas-Stove-Door Latches, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompany-ing drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in gas stove door latches, andthe object of the invention is to provide a handle-operated latch soconstructed, that in the event of an explosion because of gasaccumulation in the stove @before lighting, the latches of the doorswill yield and permit the door or doors to open, thus preventing injuryto the stove.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of aportion of a gas stove showing the improved latch applied to the doorsthereof. Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the improved latch showing it inthe closed position. Fig. 3, is a sectional view showing the latch inits yielding position to permit the o ening of the door under the forceof an exp osion within the stove. Fig. 4, is a sectional View of amodified form of the improved latch. Fig. 5, is a sectional view on theline 55 of Fi 4.

It is well known to those s 'lled in this art that if in the operationof the stove the gas of the main burner or burners is turned on, anaccumulation of gas in the stove occurs, and if then lighted \there isliable to be an explosion, which sometimes damages the stove.

This invention is designed to permit the automatic opening of, the dooror. doors of the. stove in the case (if an explosion therein, thusreleasing the expansive force of the explosion and preventing injury tothe stove.

The present improvement, as embodied in the form of latches shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a latch handle 1 whlch is secured to anoscillating latch-stem 2 which passes through the stovedoor 3 andcarries at its inner end a latch 4. This latch 4 is pivoted to the stem2 at the point ,5, and surrounding the stem 2 is a suitable sleeve 6.The inner face of this sleeve 6 engages the adjacent face of the ivotedlatch 4, while the opposite or outer ace of the sleeve 6 is engaged by aspiral spring7, the said spring 7 having its opposite end restingagainst a flange 8 which ally release the door.

is part of a hollow boss 9 which projects from the door 3. The springand sleeve are located within this boss, and a flange 1.0 connected tothe latch stem 12 engages the outerend of the boss 9, the spring thusserving to hold the parts in position and permitting the sleeve 6 to bedepressed by the swinging of the latch 4, as shown in Fig. 3, toautomatic- Preferably, the end 11 of the latch is tapered or curved asshown at 12 to permit the locking end of the latch to more freely swinginto the position shown in Fig. 3. The locking end of the latch 4 isadapted to engage the door frame 13 which acts as a latch keeper forlocking the door closed. When it is desired to release the door the stem2 is oscillated by means of the handle 1 to turn the locking end of thelatch out of engagement with the door frame 13, and the door is lockedin a closed position by turning the handle to carry the locking end ofthe latch in engagement with the door frame 13 after the door is closed.From this description it will be seen that the latch is ahandle-operated one for locking the door closed, and for releasing thedoor to permit it to be opened, but will automatically yield andpermitthe door to be 0 ened under the expansive pressure of an exp osionwithin the stove.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of this invention is shown, in whichinstance the handle 14 is secured to a suitable casting 15, the ends 16of this casting being of rocker form and resting incorrespondingly-shaped depressions 17 which are formed in the door 18.Projecting through the door 18 from the casting 15, and preferably atits center, is an arm 19, and this arm also passes through a suitableflat form spring 20, the spring having its ends 21 resting against theinner side 01 the door 18', and bowed outward between its ends, asclearly shown in Fig. 4. A latch 22 is pivoted to the inner end of thearm 19 and the latch rests against the spring 20. The spring thus servesto hold the handle in an extended position and also permits the latch toturn onits ivot 23 to automaticall release the door n the case of anexplosion for the purposes previously stated. The spring also serves tohold the latch in the locking osition shown in solid lines, Fi 5, butthe etch can be thrown to the unlociing position shown in dotted lines,Fig. 5, by

moving the handle 14 laterally, thus rocking it on its rockers 16. Thismodified form is also a handle-operated latch for locking the doorclosed, and permitting it to be opened, while at the same time it willautomatically release the door and permit it to be opened should anexplosion occur within the stove.

1 do not limit myself to the specific constructions herein shown, theprimary feature of the invention being a handle-operated latch which ismovable to a releasing posi tion automatically by reason of outwardpressure on the door.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is1- l. The combination with a gas stove door and doorframe, of a latch carried by the door and adapted to engage with thedoor frame and to be operated by the opening movement or" the door, anda handle operatively connected with the latch to move it independent ofthe door frame.

2'. The combination with a gas stove door and door frame, of a pressureoperated latch carriedby one of said members and engaging the other ofsaid members, and a latch operirtinlg handle operatively connected withthe atc 3. The combination with a gas stove door. and latch keeper, of alatch engaging the keeper to hold the door closed, one of said membersmovable to unlocking position under outward pressure for the purposedescribed, and a latch operating handle connected with the latch to moveit independent of said outward pressure. v

a. A latch for gas stoves comprising a door, a handle operated membercarried by the door, a latch keeper, a latch pivoted to .the said handleoperated member and engaging the keeper, a spring for holding the latchin locking position but permitting it to yield to unlocking positionunder outward pressure upon the door independent of the handle operatedmember, the parts operating for the purpose described.

5. A latch for, gas stove doors comprising a movable handle operatedmember, a latch pivoted to said member and movable therewith to lockingand releasing position, and a spring adapted to hold the latch in itslocked position but permitting the latch to yield to an unlockingposition under outward pressure upon the door.'

6. A latch for gas stove doors, comprising a handle'operated member, alatch keeper, a latch ivoted to the handle member and movable in adirection at right angles to the movement of said member by outwardpressure enga ement with the kee er, a spring for normally holding thesaid atch against said movement, whereby the latch may be moved by thehandle operated member to locking and releasing position, and moved to areleasing position by outward pressure independent of the said handlemember.

7. A latch for gas stove doors, comprising a handle operated member, alatch keeper, a latch pivoted at right angles to the said member andprojecting to opposite sides of its pivotal point, a spring exertingpressure upon the latch at opposite sides of its pivotal point, thelatch thereby adapted to be moved to locking and releasing positions bythe handle member, and to releasing position against the tension of thespring by outward pressure engagement with the keeper independent of thehandle member.

8. lhe combination with a gas stove door and latch keeper, of a pressureoperated latch carried by the door and engaging the keeper, and anoscillating handle operating the latch independent of said pressure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

4 RUDOLPH HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

G. A. REsEK, lnos. Rare.

